Espace Media is determined to move forward into a stable future
Bern-based Espace Media announced at its annual media conference on Tuesday in Bern that it intends to maintain its „traditional drive“ and continue to grow. The company said its stable consolidated earnings were very satisfactory.
Bern-based Espace Media intends to maintain its "traditional aggressiveness" and continue to grow, it announced at its annual media conference in Bern on Tuesday. Chairman of the Board of Directors Charles von Gaffenried told the media that the newspaper's big trump card is its high level of credibility. And this must remain the case under all circumstances. Von Gaffenried is pleased with the stable consolidated result of the Espace Media Groupe. In 2005, the group result amounted to CHF 18.8 million (previous year CHF 21.5 million). The slight decline was due to one-off special costs and higher depreciation in connection with the commissioning of the new printing center. Espace Media Groupe generated operating revenues of CHF 261.9 million in 2005 (previous year: CHF 260.9 million). The operating profit before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to CHF 32.5 (34.7) million. Shareholders' equity increased by 9.2 percent to CHF 200.1 million and reached a ratio of 57.5 (53.3) percent. The number of employees at the end of the year was 1038 (1034 in the previous year).
Less pleasing was the loss of Anzeiger Region Bern at Bund Verlag AG, which resulted in the loss of 17 jobs in prepress. The resulting social plan costs were partly responsible for the renewed deficit of CHF 2 million (previous year: CHF 0.7 million) at the "Bund". However, Albert P. Stäheli, Chairman of the Executive Board, was confident that the "Bund" could be brought back on track this year. Stäheli also found it annoying that the Competition Commission "reportedly" intends to appeal the decision regarding Espace Media Groupe's stake in "20 Minuten" to the Federal Supreme Court. Stäheli went on to explain that Espace Media Groupe would like to operate a multimedia center based on the Danish model on Dammweg in Berne from 2009. The idea is for print, radio, TV and online editorial teams to work much more closely together.
Less pleasing was the loss of Anzeiger Region Bern at Bund Verlag AG, which resulted in the loss of 17 jobs in prepress. The resulting social plan costs were partly responsible for the renewed deficit of CHF 2 million (previous year: CHF 0.7 million) at the "Bund". However, Albert P. Stäheli, Chairman of the Executive Board, was confident that the "Bund" could be brought back on track this year. Stäheli also found it annoying that the Competition Commission "reportedly" intends to appeal the decision regarding Espace Media Groupe's stake in "20 Minuten" to the Federal Supreme Court. Stäheli went on to explain that Espace Media Groupe would like to operate a multimedia center based on the Danish model on Dammweg in Berne from 2009. The idea is for print, radio, TV and online editorial teams to work much more closely together.
